Police officers during a past pass-out parade at the National Police College Main Campus Kiganjo in Nyeri County.
Junior police officers are set to benefit from promotions if MPs approve a legislative proposal currently under consideration by a parliamentary committee.
Besides setting the retirement age for the Inspector General and his two deputies, the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also seeks to streamline career progression within the police service.
If approved by the committee and later adopted by the House, the proposal will ensure a clear promotion path from constable to the highest ranks.
The Bill, sponsored by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, seeks to cap the retirement age for the Inspector General and their deputies at 60 years.
The MP noted that unlike the Kenya Defence Forces Act, 2002 – which outlines clear structures for promotion and retirement – the current National Police Service Act lacks such clarity.
“In the military we don’t have that problem. It is clearly stipulated that after every four years you are promoted, and at 62 you retire,” said Mr Kaunya.
In the police service, a constable – the lowest rank – is eligible for promotion to corporal after three years and passing police law exams. A corporal is expected to rise to sergeant after undergoing relevant training. However, in practice, many officers stagnate in one rank for years.
Officers have frequently decried that promotions are not based on merit but rather on extraneous factors and external influence.
The proposal mirrors provisions in the Kenya Defence Forces Act, which restricts the Chief of Defence Forces, Vice Chief, and service commanders to a single four-year term or until they attain retirement age – whichever comes first. These guidelines stem from the Tonje Rules, which mandate retirement at 62 for the Chief of Defence Forces.
Mr Kaunya said the Bill aims to plug the legal gap in the National Police Service Act, which currently lacks an age limit for senior appointments.
“The current Act has no age requirement. It exempts officers at the rank of Deputy Inspector General and above from the mandatory retirement age of 60,” he said.
If passed, the amendment will disqualify those aged over 60 from appointment as Inspector General or Deputy Inspector General.
“The Bill seeks to ensure that appointees to these offices are capable of handling the demanding nature of the job, while also balancing the need for experienced leadership with succession planning,” reads the Bill.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Mr Kaunya urged MPs to support the legislation, saying it would bring order to promotion processes in the police service.
He pointed out that during the vetting of current Inspector General Douglas Kanja, there was unease over his age.
Loima MP Protus Akuja backed the amendment, noting it would address the same concerns raised during Mr Kanja’s vetting.
“This amendment is valid. It will address the age question. If there are exceptions, they should be clearly stated – as is the case in the Public Service Commission,” said Mr Akuja.
At the time of his nomination, Mr Kanja was already over 60. However, the absence of an age limit in the Police Act allowed his vetting and eventual approval.
